Tuesday 26 April 2016

First aid training and Toft Gate: 26-04-2016

Another day of options! Those NCVs who were trained in first aid last year were offered the chance of a half day refresher course, so 8 opted to take up this useful opportunity. 10 other NCVs and students joined James up at Toft Gate lime kiln to continue work on that fence that has been challenging us for the last few weeks. Any super keen NCVs could join the fencers after lunch and 5 did this - in spite of the worsening weather conditions.

First aid training was given by Stephen Smith at the council chambers in Pateley Bridge. Even though it was only a year ago that we were trained (and, again, three years before that) it is important that we are updated. As we seldom have to use our skills (thank goodness) the knowledge soon becomes hazy. The advice of 'use it or lose it' is certainly pertinent here and we do not want to be wishing we'd brought our first aid manual out on a task if a major problem occurs.

Stephen shows us a defibrillator machine. Apparently 
there are a number of these in the dale and we only need 
phone 112 or 999 to find out if there is one nearby.

 Everyone had a go at refreshing their CPR skills, 
singing either 'Nelly the Elephant' or 'I will survive' 
to ensure that we kept to the right rhythm.

Alistair and the CPR model got very friendly during the process.


After Stephen demonstrated how to use the defib machine...

...Jan and Ruth had a go. Unfortunately to no avail. 
This patient was definitely a goner. 
Mind you - what kind of life would he have had if he had survived? Bad enough without arms or legs and only the front part of your torso, but joined to someone else in the same situation is no fun!

Fencing at Toft Gate was far more physically demanding. The underlying bedrock was still there and causing difficulty. However, the day started clear and bright which kept the spirits up and the job went well, with rails starting to be added to those posts that had been inserted. A halt was called at 2:30pm when hail showers made working conditions difficult. Some photos of the task show just how dedicated the NCVs are. (Only afternoon shots are available.) Needless to say - more work lies ahead!!

 Teams spread out along the line of posts and busied 
themselves with spades, spikes, hammers and nails.

Will used a spirit level to ensure that the rail was horizontal.

Yes - nice and straight so far. 
(Although difficult to tell in the dark conditions!)

Josh felt as if he'd done a good job.

Osian, the mighty, took on the challenge of a 
post hole rather than opting for the easier 
task of fixing on the rail  

Oh dear - don't look that way!

The hailstones got bigger and stung our faces. 
At least those of us who had attended first aid training 
earlier would have been able to treat anyone 
with hail related lacerations or hypothermia.



Ros E.

Tuesday 19 April 2016

Fishpond Wood and Toft Gate: 19-04-2016

Today was a day when the group had to split in two once again. A group of 12 fencing stalwarts revisited Toft Gate to continue work inserting fencing posts alongside the permissive path from the kiln to the cafe. Another group of 12 went into Fishpond Wood to meet the owner, Peter Brambleby, for a day of cutting back and burning rhododendrons. This needed to be done to enable Peter to drive his quad bike right the way around the pond.  Luckily for everyone it was a sunny, dry day. Hurray!! The photos tell the tale......

At Fishpond Wood:

The lake looked gorgeous in the morning sunshine.

Whilst awaiting Peter's arrival, the NCVs made 
a start by tidying up near the bench.

Don't think that we can't see you both standing around.
Get busy. No shirking!

This was the offending clump - a complete tangle of 
branches that loomed over us.
A seemingly impossible task lay ahead.

Some NCVs attacked it from the back 
and others from the front.

The branches were dragged away...

...to make 2 piles near the lakeside.

Slowly, progress was made. The clump grew smaller....

 ...and smaller.....

..and smaller.....

...and smaller.....

....until it was all gone.

Meanwhile the brash piles grew and grew until, eventually, 
Peter returned with a fire lighting kit. 
Then the brash piles started to disappear!

Three NCVs patiently plugged away at a rhodie 
root whilst the bonfires burned.

 A group from Open Country lent a hand once they finished 
their own task elsewhere in the wood.

 
Burn I say. Burn. or I shall prod you with my pitchfork.

The brash burned well once the fires took hold as the hot weather ensured
 that the brash was dry. It also brought on a few cases of steamy feet for 
the unfortunate NCVs who had worn wellies!!

Yes Peter. I think that you can get your quad bike through there now.

Meanwhile - up at Toft Gate:

It was decidedly better weather up on Greenhow, 
to gather in the car park for a briefing this week!

Stones had to be shifted to allow some posts to be inserted.

Plenty of posts were waiting to be inserted into holes.

Jan demonstrates the strength of his post -
 or is he just holding it up?

Tea break at last.

Just how many NCVs does it take to peer into a hole?

Josh practises his geology and 
finds some fossilised coral.

Meanwhile Julia unearths an old bottle that used to contain 
'Owbridge's Lung Tonic made in Hull (and found in Nidderdale)'
If you want a brief history of this efficacious medicine then click HERE.

Look how many posts have been put in now.




Tuesday 12 April 2016

Toft Gate Lime Kiln - the story develops.

Rather like a Mills and Boon epic, this story is now thin on plot but full of content.

This week 9 NCVs and a 5 strong Heritage skills student team welcomed a new volunteer to the ranks. The team looked forward to another instalment of path reinstatement and fence building at Toft Gate Lime Kiln. The very misty, damp, cool weather was somewhat foreboding and, alas, in line with forecasts.

What heroes to turn up for duty in these conditions 
(NFG - Normal for Greenhow)!  

Once again the team split into two groups, path workers and fence builders.

The path work team made short work of the remaining 20 metres of wheelchair path to be uncovered up to the Lime Kiln interpretation panel. In the meantime, one dedicated NCV roamed the site picking up three bin liners’ worth of rubbish.

Anita has a read of the interpretation panel - 
was the tale worth the hard work involved to reach it; 
and who's NCV hat is that hanging on the board?

Do these gloves belong to the same, hatless, NCV? 
Will any further items of divested attire be discovered?
Is it that the NCV is prone to dissolving in the rain?

The majority of the NCVs enjoyed a rain accompanied alfresco luncheon which was somewhat cheered up by a consignment of Audrey’s flapjack. Thank you Audrey!

After lunch the relentless rain drove NCVs on to a flurry of turf removal and final path tidying. A soggy pat on the back to the NCVs for recovering the whole wheelchair path at Toft Gate Lime Kiln.

Now that's what I call a wheelchair path.
(Wouldn't fancy pushing a full wheelchair
 back up to the car park on it though!

Meanwhile, the fence builders were having their own challenge of mining their way through seemingly solid rock in order to provide adequately deep foundations for the fence posts. All sorts of tools and brute force were deployed and, incredibly, a solid steel spike suffered a blunting incident during the process. Loose talk of a visit to the nearby quarry for some explosives was quickly put down and the penultimate straining post and several fence posts were secured before works ended at around 2:30pm.

Well - we've at least got this one into the ground.

One NCV then demonstrated the art of prewashing very muddy waterproofs using an old milk carton and muddy water from a roadside puddle, the effectiveness of which cannot be denied.
Evidence of the level of muddiness reached - 
and the job that still lies ahead.


Ros K. gives herself a towel down before getting into the car.

Osian